Moisture detection sensors for building structures

Abstract

A moisture detection sensor is used in a building structure to detect moisture penetration is a flat self-adhesive tape. It includes a substrate of dielectric, hydrophobic material. Two elongate, parallel, conductors are secured to the top surface and a protective layer of non-hygroscopic, water pervious material secured over the conductors. A pressure sensitive adhesive on a bottom surface of the substrate is covered with a release sheet. The sensor may include moisture probes which penetrate the protective layer, the respective conductors and the substrate and to extend into a building component to which the substrate has been adhered. Each probe is made from a conductive, corrosion resistant material. This is particularly useful with water absorbent building materials, such as wood, where the surface may appear dry, but the body is impregnated with water. The preferred moisture probe is a U-shaped metal staple driven by a power stapler.

Description

[0001]This application is a continuation application of application Ser. No. 12 / 854,582 filed Aug. 11, 2010 which is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 10 / 534,882 filed Feb. 1, 2007 which is a 371 National Phase application of PCT / US04 / 22609 filed Jul. 14, 2004.[0002]This application claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of Provisional Application 60 / 488,090 filed Jul. 18, 2003.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]The present invention relates to the detection of water penetration into residential and commercial buildings.BACKGROUND[0004]Water intrusion into buildings is a massive and growing problem. Leaking buildings cost homeowners, commercial property owners and property insurers hundreds of millions of dollars every year. Even the smallest leaks that channel water into building walls can cause expensive problems. Structural damage to plywood sheathing and stud walls due to wood rot has been commonplace for decades. Black mold or toxic mold that grows in the wet walls is k...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]The tape is of laminated construction with the preferred configuration having a substrate of rugged, high-dielectric strength and two flat copper conductors adhered to the dielectric substrate. The high-dielectric strength substrate provides mechanical strength and electrical insulation from the surface it is applied to. The substrate is coated with a pressure sensitive mounting adhesive that provides good adhesion to standard building materials such as wood, wood laminates, concrete, steel, galvanized steel, PVC, ceramic, etc. The adhesive backing is desirably non-water soluble and selected to provide good adhesion characteristics over the anticipated application temperature range, e.g. −10° C. to +50° C. The adhesive backing is protected prior to installation by a peel-off release layer. The protective non-hygroscopic dielectric layer over the conductors provides mechanical and insulating properties such that contact with metal surfaces does not cause a short circuit across the conductors while allowing water to penetrate to the conductor surfaces and bridge the gap between the conductors.

Problems solved by technology

Water intrusion into buildings is a massive and growing problem.

Leaking buildings cost homeowners, commercial property owners and property insurers hundreds of millions of dollars every year.

Even the smallest leaks that channel water into building walls can cause expensive problems.

Structural damage to plywood sheathing and stud walls due to wood rot has been commonplace for decades.

Black mold or toxic mold that grows in the wet walls is known to cause severe physical problems for occupants as well as severe fiscal problems for builders and insurance companies.

One form of detection tape, with flat, exposed conductors is designed for open use and is not suitable for direct placement within a building structure where metallic building elements could cause a short across the exposed sensing elements.

None of the currently available sensors is suited for placement within a building structure next to the protective moisture barrier that is often referred to as the building envelope.

An even greater problem that the prior art does not address is the potential for wood elements to absorb moisture to the point of saturation without being detected.

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